Community Assistance: National and Regional Programs for Public and Community Groups

National Designations | Grant & Financial Assistance | Project Assistance | Investment & Property Acquisition

The National Park Service (NPS) administers national and regional programs that are available to the public and community groups, including nonprofit organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and state, local, and tribal governments. Connections between NPS programs and communities are vital to furthering the mission of the NPS.

NATIONAL DESIGNATIONS

Preserving and conserving nationally important places with community groups

National designations acknowledge the significance of nationally important historic, natural and cultural resources and/or the commitment of partner organizations to steward these nationally important places. Designations occur through an act of Congress or approval by the Secretary of the Interior and the NPS. Many allow specifically identified organizations to receive funding and/or technical assistance from the NPS, such as the National Heritage Areas Program, National Natural Landmarks Program, National Trails System, and National Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.

• National Heritage Areas Program
• National Register of Historic Places
• National Wild and Scenic Rivers
• National Historic Landmarks Program
• National Trails System Program
• National Natural Landmarks Program
• National Water Trails System

GRANTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Providing critical grant and project funding to support community projects

Financial assistance opportunities support the work of specific groups in historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, education, and community engagement projects. The financial assistance opportunities identified below are provided through grants and cooperative agreements.

CONSERVATION AND RECREATION FUNDING

• Challenge Cost Share Program
• Chesapeake Gateways and Trails Program
• Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants
• Shared Beringian Heritage Program
• Southwest Border Resource Protection Program

HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND HERITAGE EDUCATION FUNDING

• African American Civil Rights Grants Program
• American Battlefield Protection Program
• Certified Local Government Program
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities Grant Program
• Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program
• Maritime Heritage Program
• National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
• National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Program
• National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
• Preserve America Grant Program
• Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
• Save America’s Treasures Grant Program
• Shared Beringian Heritage Program
• Southwest Border Resource Protection Program
• State Historic Preservation Program
• State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants
• Tribal Historic Preservation Program
• Underrepresented Community Grants Program

Project Assistance

Providing technical assistance to community groups

Project assistance includes resource identification and analysis, and conservation and recreation planning. Some assistance is provided for free by NPS staff, such as assistance through the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, and other opportunities are fee-for-service.

CONSERVATION, RECREATION, AND HEALTH ASSISTANCE

• Chesapeake Gateways and Trails Program
• Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Network
• Healthy Parks Healthy People National Program
• Hydropower Recreation Assistance Program
• Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION ASSISTANCE

• American Battlefield Protection Program

• American Indian Liaison Office
• Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units
• Cultural Resources Geographical Information Systems Facility
• Heritage Documentation Program
• Heritage Travel Itineraries
• Historic Preservation Training Center
• Midwest Archeology Center
• National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Program
• National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
• Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation
• Southeast Archeological Center
• Submerged Resources Center
• Teaching with Historic Places
• Technical Preservation Services
• Telling All Americans’ Stories – Heritage Initiatives and Theme Studies

Investment & Property Acquistion Assistance

Helping communities invest in historic buildings and federal surplus property to create new assets

Investment and property acquisition assistance includes programs that support community efforts to rehabilitate historic properties and acquire federal land and property.

• Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program
• Federal Lands to Parks Program
• Historic Surplus Property Program
• National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program

See more information about community assistance.